Sussan Ley does not refute Hollie Hughes’ claims of sabotage within Liberal party
Hughes told Radio National: “Obviously, Jacinta [Nampijinpa Price] and Sarah [Henderson]”I think it’s being used by two men who wanted to challenge themselves but didn’t have the courage to do so.”
Price, who left the Nationals to become Angus Taylor’s deputy in the leadership vote against Ley in May before withdrawing, hit back at Hughes on Wednesday.
“It’s quite disappointing to hear that kind of comment,” Price told 2GB. “I think the idea that I can’t think for myself, that I must be used by others, has always been discussed by angry leftists.”
“It’s clear that he’s very angry and that’s something he needs to deal with on his own.”
Hughes, who represented NSW in the Senate from 2019 until the middle of this year on behalf of the Centre-Right, which also counts Ley as a member, has been a long-standing factional rival of Taylor and lost his seat in the Senate to one of his allies.
As Ley continues his second media blitz this week to revive energy policy – scheduled 10 times on TV and radio on Wednesday – South Australian Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan vowed to continue promoting net-zero emissions even after his party scraps the target entirely.
Asked on the talk podcast Politics with Michelle Grattan McLachlan said he was “doubtful” about whether Ley could sell the new policy to voters. Modern Australia wants a strong commitment not just to restore nature but to protect it, and that includes reducing emissions.
McLachlan ruled out including coal in the mix, describing the policy endorsed by both sides of the coalition as “careless about emissions”.
“I don’t believe coal needs to be part of the equation in the medium to long term. And I think we need to be on the path to a renewable energy future. Now I’m not naive. We’re in transition and it’s going to happen intermittently, and I think gas is a transition fuel as well, but our goal for our country should be to move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible without leaving anyone in poverty.”
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